GEORGE BEST

[smurfboy]

Does anyone else find it distasteful how the media have held a public countdown to his death? 'The latest is George Best could die at any moment' screamed our local radio station yesterday. Some of the papers were just as bad. I half-expected to see an electronic death clock online, or a live stream direct from the hospital bed. Why couldn't the poor man have been allowed to die in peace - did we really need twice-hourly bulletins?

[loulou]

I agree smurfy. I wish the press would leave him and his family alone.

[oldspice]

When I was a kid we used to chant

Georgie Best, Superstar!

Lift up your shirt and show us your bra!

He was the greatest, most talented player of his generation and drop dead gorgeous too.

His end was self-inflicted but I can't helping shedding a little tear for those deep blues eyes, and that awesome talent.

Rest in peace Georgie Best. xxx

[chocolate chick]

Does anyone else find it distasteful how the media have
held a public countdown to his death? 'The latest is George Best could
die at any moment' screamed our local radio station yesterday. Some of
the papers were just as bad. I half-expected to see an electronic death
clock online, or a live stream direct from the hospital bed. Why
couldn't the poor man have been allowed to die in peace - did we really
need twice-hourly bulletins?

Well said smurfy! Every news bulletin
I heard was @george Best hours from death'. You could almost hear the
excitment in their voice. It was a bit sick.

[StrollingMinstrel]

Is it just me who's an old softy, but I actually saw some of George Best Funeral on TV and felt quite moved.

As a person it didn't make much difference to me that he had died, I thought it was a bit sad but that's all, but when I saw the funeral I felt a real sense of warmth from the friends and doctors that spoke about him with genuine affection. And the songs were really poignant..... The long and winding road, beautifully sang.

[oldspice]

Georgie Best was a hero of my childhood. I felt terribly moved by his funeral and yes, I too felt that glow of warmth for the high regard that people had for him  - as a person and a sportsman. 

It affected me much more than Princess Di's death. I thought that was totally over the top. People went completely bonkers - buying 50 copies of Candle in the Wind and wasting all that money on flowers when it could have been put to better use. She'd have hated all that.

[chocolate chick]

I agree, there was a great sense of warmth from his funeral, he was a
well loved man. I felt a lump in my throat when Callum Best took to the
stand.



Man Utd paid a great tribute to him before the win at Portsmouth.

[lemoneye]

Times have changed and football has changed. Not sure he would have the same impact in todays game. It's always sad when anyone dies, but to escape a self inflicted death through drink once and do it again? That is a severe addiction. And very scary.

George Best.  In life mecurial footballer with amazing talent or alcoholic wife beater?

Either way the media attention of his dying hours was disproportionate, disrespectful and undignified.  May he rest in peace.

When we come to remembering great footballers might I remind people of three words.  Sir Stanley Matthews.

[lemoneye]

Great skill AND dignity. Well said BH

[loulou]

what's mecurial?

[chocolate chick]

Good question 

[Cherry_Ripe]

I suspect it's supposed to be "mercurial" ... lively and unpredicatable in other words  

[goldencup]

The plot thickens - what is 'unpredicatable'?

[goldencup]

Bounty mentions Sir Stanley Matthews but what about Bobby Moore?  Captained England to World Cup victory amongst other achievements, died of cancer and nobody made much fuss about his funeral that I remember.

"He was my friend as well as the greatest defender I ever played against. The world has lost one of it's greatest football players and an honourable gentleman." Pele